Leaders for Literacy Luncheon

23rd Annual

Leaders for Literacy Luncheon

October 14, 2010

Omni William Penn Hotel

530 William Penn Way - Downtown Pittsburgh

11:30 AM Reception

12 Noon Luncheon and Speaker

Guest Speaker

Curtis Aikens

Television Personality, Celebrity Chef and Former Adult Literacy Student

Curtis Aikens' affinity with Greater Pittsburgh Literacy Council’s mission comes from his own struggle with illiteracy. In fact, Curtis made it through high school, into college, and owned his own business without ever knowing how to read. Success scared him, and he developed a pattern of destroying what he had achieved for fear his illiteracy would be discovered.

"I thought I was too stupid to succeed," Curtis remembers. "I felt I didn't deserve it.” His turning point came at the age of 26 when he sought the help of an adult literacy program and began working with a volunteer tutor. “It was like being in a dark room and someone turning the light on for me,” Curtis says.

In recognition of Curtis’ struggles and successes, the theme for this year’s event is “Literacy: Recipe for a Successful Life.” An expected 300 business and community leaders will gather at the Omni William Penn Hotel to honor local men and women who share Curtis’ struggle and have achieved success. Because of the support of numerous business and community leaders, more than $127,000 was raised last year so that Pittsburgh men and women could gain vital literacy skills to achieve self-sufficiency.

Your support is equally vital. Please join us for this year’s event. There are a variety of ways to participate.

Learn more about becoming a sponsor.
Place an advertisement in the program book.

Purchase an individual ticket for yourself and a friend today. Tickets are $80 each.
(Choose a designation of "Leaders for Literacy Luncheon")

We are grateful for the following leadership support of the 2010 Leaders for Literacy Luncheon: